Nicholas Yang Visits Seattle

Secretary for Innovation & Technology Nicholas Yang has visited technology firms Microsoft and Amazon in Seattle.

He first toured the Microsoft campus where he watched technology demonstrations, viewed innovative new devices and met the firm's senior management.

Noting that Microsoft has been collaborating with Cyberport, the Science & Technology Parks Corporation and tertiary institutes, Mr Yang hoped the company would continue to work with Hong Kong's various sectors in accelerating digital transformation.

At a business luncheon co-organised by Greater Seattle Partners and the Washington State China Relations Council, he said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is determined to develop innovation and technology with a commitment of US$12.8 billion in the past two years.

A super tax deduction of up to 300% has also been introduced to attract more private businesses to invest in research and development, while two key research clusters - Health@InnoHK and AIR@InnoHK - are being formed, focusing on healthcare and robotics technologies, Mr Yang added.

He encouraged more US companies to grasp new business opportunities in Hong Kong, given its active participation in developing an international innovation and technology hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

During a meeting with Senior Deputy Mayor of Seattle Michael Fong, Mr Yang noted that Seattle is a thriving technology hub and home to a burgeoning startup scene and he looked forward to Hong Kong forging a closer collaboration with the city on the technology front.

He then met Amazon Web Services' senior executives and toured Amazon Spheres and Amazon Go.

Mr Yang said he was glad that Amazon Web Services launched a cloud region in Hong Kong earlier this year, noting the move enhances the city's position as an international data hub and promotes wider use of cloud among local small and medium enterprises.

He concluded his visit to Seattle by attending a dinner hosted by Microsoft's Executive Vice President Harry Shum.